MenuThe Apostle Paul opens his letter to the Romans with this greeting: “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be His saints, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7) Here’s a summer challenge: this summer let us, as a congregation, grow in faith by reading through Paul’s epistle to the Romans. Many of our Sunday Epistle readings will be from Romans this summer, and many of our Sunday sermons will be focused accordingly, so we can undertake this journey together.
Martin Luther writes: “This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament, and is truly the purest gospel. It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it, word for word, by heart, but also that he should occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul.”
Paul’s main purpose in writing his letter to the Romans (and to us) is to defend the essential teaching of Christianity and its mission: justification through God’s righteousness in Christ. He proclaims the wonderful news for us that God declares us righteous through faith in Christ, truly alive through Holy Baptism, and united with Christ in His death and resurrection.
As the Holy Spirit strengthens us through God’s Word, let us grow in faith together.
I encourage you to pray for the Lord to bless our congregation as we undertake the renovation and renewal project for our Krampitz Fellowship Hall, as we undertake to share Jesus Christ with the little ones in our Vacation Bible School July 11-13, as we gather to worship our Triune God in the Clarence Town Park on August 13, and as we seek to share the good news of Jesus Christ with our family, friends and neighbors this summer.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
In Christ,
Rev. Jeff Nickel